Namibia Travel Guide
Namibia Travel Guide
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
The Central Corridor
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

Namibia Travel Guide

The Central Corridor



Despite Windhoek's dominance of the country's central region, remember that it occupies only a small area. The city doesn't sprawl for miles. Drive just 10km from the centre and you will be on an open highway, whichever direction you choose. The recent completion of the trans-Kalahari Highway means that you can drive directly from Walvis Bay right across this region to South Africa's northern heartland, without leaving tarmac. In time, this may have a major impact on the area.

This chapter concentrates on this central swathe of Namibia, working outwards from Windhoek – to the edges of the Namib-Naukluft National Park in the west, and to the border with Botswana in the east.

The sub-sections of this chapter are:

From Windhoek to the Coast


Travelling from Windhoek to the coast, there's a choice of three obvious roads: the main tarred B2, the C28 and the more southerly C26. Along these roads there are several towns of interest to visit such as Okahandja, Karibib and Usakos.

East from Windhoek


Gobabis is busy town, standing at the centre of an important cattle farming area on the western edges of the Kalahari, forms Namibia's gateway into Botswana via the Buitepos border post, about 120km east. It's an ideal place to use the banks, fill up with fuel or get supplies before heading east towards Ghanzi, where most goods aren't so easily available. From here cross the border into Botswana - the Buitepos border opens 07.00–17.00 and is suitable for 2WD vehicles. There's little on the other side apart from a border post until you reach the small Kalahari cattle-farming town of Ghanzi.

South from Windhoek


Rehoboth is just north of the Tropic of Capricorn and 87km south of Windhoek on the tarred B1, Rehoboth is the centre of the country's Baster community, which is quite different from any of Namibia's other ethnic groups, and jealously guards its remaining autonomy. However, there are few reasons to stop here, other than the museum, and most people just pass on through.


^ Top of page